PRC-Golds storm into finals contention
Too big too fast. photo Zoomfiji
Gold power. photo Zoomfiji
a gutsy Babaa. photo Zoomfiji
They came here with the intention of winning well & that is exactly what the Tautahi Gold’s did by 47-10.
In a case of the old vs the young the Tautahi Golds have given the young Babaas a lesson on rugby tonight. Playing with the grace of experience, the Tongan team played simply rugby and wore the young fellas down. As the whistle blew it left a score of 47-10 on the scoreboard and now the reigning champions are still in the hunt for the PRC final.
Sensing they were bigger the visiting Golds wasted little time & invited contact at every chance, with big hits, straight runs and lot’s of scrums the game was one of attrition. Full credit must be given to the Fiji Barbarians too, with each missile that was launched in their direction they took it head on. Being a ripe old average age of 19, these Babaas showed a heap of courage tonight and this will only make them better players.
The Golds strung huge phases together and were regularly rewarded for their efforts with tries flowing. Over this season they have shown an ability to chase a lead down, they have also grown as a unit from this. This storm they created today ensured all energy went their way, if they do progress to the final again they will need to turn it into a cyclone.
They are stuck in Fiji now and will be eagerly waiting the results over the weekend, last year it was their brother team the Reds that cemented their spot in the final, as fate has it this again is required for them to have a shot at glory.
It is hard to pick holes in a side that won so well, however in the second half their game did slide a little. A few passes went to ground, but more importantly they got drawn into a scrappy style of rugby. The fact that it was some young men that drew them into this is the worry; if they do make the final they will be playing a class act that will destroy them if they don’t play smart for 80 minutes.
Leaving the grounds there was a sound so sweet creeping out of the Babaas shed, you couldn’t have formulated a better choir from around the globe if you tried, I sense their songs and game will improve from a gutsy PRC initiation in 09.